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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: drill · plane · lash · fan · temple · face

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. drill — the tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. drill — army training
  6. face — to point toward
  7. drill — a practice
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. face — part of the head
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. plane — a tool
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. face — to confront
  18. temple — side of the head

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com